The Scene: April 2009

St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon, Mardi Gras Ball

By Sarah EveansFrom D Magazine April 2009

Brian Reyes, your columnist, and Crawford Brock drink the bubbly.

Some luncheons require dutiful attendance but amount to a minimum of fun. The kind we prefer require designated drivers, preferably at the wheels of stretch limos. The St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon happily falls into the latter category, especially this year. After all, it was the 25th anniversary of the event, and every fashion editor’s fave designer Brian Reyes—just days away from his appearance at New York’s Fashion Week—was in town to show his line. Jewelry designer Ashley Montgomery dished about her April wedding in Belize, and Dawn Weeks-Spalding talked up August’s Simply Summer, Simply Shoes event. Luncheon co-chair Janie Condon chatted with us for a breathless moment just after saying hello to Reyes backstage. “He was jittery, but I told him he looked hot,” she reported. We wandered into the Anatole’s Chantily Ballroom and found our place at one of the Stanley Korshak tables, near the runway. It’s good to be at the table with Korshak owner Crawford Brock and the featured designer. Nancy Rogers sent over two bottles of Cristal. Though Reyes and crew had a big night out at Nobu the evening before, he was all grins as models strutted down the runway in his creations.

The buzz building up to the Mardi Gras Ball was all about the invite: an original work from pop artist Burton Morris, whose paintings you might recognize from the show Friends. Also adding color: co-chair Maggie Cooke Kipp. “I’m from New Orleans. I can give you some Cajun speak!” she exclaimed as she greeted us. Later, designer Nicolas Villalba told us he designed the chairwomen’s feathered masks, and the dance floor was full of women getting down to The Project. At 8:30 pm. Don’t miss this month: the A.W.A.R.E. Luncheon (Kay Bailey Hutchison is the keynote speaker), the Art Ball (Elaine Agather is chairing), and the always lively Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Better book the limo for the last one.